Hyundai A-League 06-07 Season Round 2 Wrap-up

The second round of the Hyundai A-League went off with a bang with all the matches producing genuine and entertaining contests. The round kicked off with Newcastle Jets hosting Queensland Roar. After a hectic first half which saw own goals by both sides, the scores were 2 - 2. The deadlock continued for most of the second half and looked to be another draw. However new Queensland signing: Simon Lynch scored a late 86th minute goal to give his side a 3 - 2 away win.

The next match last season would have been given little notice - the bottom team: New Zealand Knights hosting the top team: Adelaide United. This season that was not the case. New Zealand continued its strong defensive structure and restricted Adelaide before Malik Buari slammed home a late winner giving New Zealand their first home win and the second since the start of the A-League competiton. Despite conceding easily the most goals last season, New Zealand is the only side yet to concede a goal after the first two rounds of the competition.

The next match was the blockbuster at the Telstra Dome - Melbourne Victory v Sydney FC. The match attracted a record home-and-away crowd of 39,730 and the match did not disappoint. Danny Allsopp starred for the home side scoring 2 goals and being the difference between the two sides in the 3 - 2 win for the Victory.

Perth Glory dominated Central Coast at Members Equity Stadium in Perth and it paid off with 2 second half goals that secured them their first win of the season.

After the first 2 rounds, Queensland and Melbourne are ontop of the ladder with 6 points with Roar ahead on goal difference. New Zealand is comfortably in third with 4 points and Sydney and Perth share fourth spot with 3. Newcastle has earned themselves 1 point while Adelaide and Central Coast are pointless.

Some interesting facts after the first 2 rounds are:

• The top 3 teams on the ladder: Queensland, Melbourne and New Zealand are all undefeated yet made up the bottom 3 last season.
• Adelaide despite finishing first last season, has lost to last season's bottom two sides: Melbourne and New Zealand.
• Adelaide and Central Coast are both pointless and on the bottom despite finished 2nd and 3rd last season. Both sides have also failed to score.
  
• The only sides to not win at home so far have been New Zealand who drew with Newcastle and Newcastle who lost 3 - 2 to Queensland

One must not get too excited however as the two bottom sides: Adelaide and Central Coast are yet to play a home game. I would suspect we won't get a fair idea of how the teams are really doing until at least round 7.

ROUND 2

Newcastle Jets - 2
Chad Gibson (OG) '25, Mark Bridge '40
Queensland Roar - 3
Reinaldo da Costa '5, Paul Okon (OG) '37, Simon Lynch '86

New Zealand Knights - 1
Malik Buari '87
Adelaide United - 0

Melbourne Victory - 3
Danny Allsopp '8 '51, Kevin Muscat (pen) '11
Sydney - 2
Iain Fyfe '18, David Carney '83

Perth Glory - 2
Simon Colosimo '52, Stuart Young '81
Central Coast Mariners - 0